Our Growing Little Princess Annika

July 14th? WOW, where has the summer gone? It truly has been wonderful to be back “HOME” in Redmond and for Gary and I to both to be home with Annika—it is helping to make up for some lost time over the past 9-10 months. However, there are those times when Gary and I look at each other and think, “why did I marry a teacher when I am a teacher myself—that puts us both home?” But it all seriousness it has been fun.

There is so much going on and happening…where do I begin?
We spent the 4th of July on the Coast with Aunt Pam and the Gang. It was Annika's first trip to the Ocean and on the way back from there we stopped and camped a night in Vernonia with Aunt Marcie and Uncle Mark, Uncle Steve & Aunt Betsy and Mark and Trisha Player. She loves campfires and loves being outside.

She is a growing little girl…she is trying her best to crawl but it is not yet in her cards. She does a lot of “scooting” around her blanket and gets around pretty good that way, but once she puts her little bottom up in the air her face takes a nosedive. Last Sunday (7/6) she moved to her OWN room. Due to our house plan that puts her upstairs and us downstairs. We ended up sleeping on our air mattress in the spare room for…OH… 3+ nights. But now she is on her way to being a big girl and up there on her own.

A couple months ago my Cousin Valeri and her boyfriend Dan moved over here to Redmond. Last week Val started a new job so her daughter Isabella has been spending the days with us. She is a couple months older than Annika so Gary and I have gotten to see first hand what were in for. And we have realized one thing—we will be waiting a while for baby #2! It’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun and I am glad that we are able to help Val out while I am home for the summer. Gary is a huge help and I don’t think I could do the whole day on my own!

It’s official—I signed my contract for next school year. I will be working at the Web Academy in Gary's school district. For those that I haven’t told yet I will be working from home and will get to have Annika home with me a couple days a week. 2-3 days I will be home monitoring my students online work and the rest of the week I will be making home visits to one-on-one tutor. It will definitely be a “different” job but one thing I am looking forward to is the opportunity to have a close relationship with all my students and their families—it is every teachers wish and very difficult in a normal public school setting. This job is truly a blessing and proof that God definitely has a plan. The job literally fell into my lap in April and I was so excited to find an opportunity that would allow me to be mom and also do what I have always wanted to do—teach! Gary is also making a job change--he will still be at the High School, but will be leaving Special Education and teaching in the Alternative Education Program. He is again coaching football (GO OUTLAWS!), and this year I have been told that I will be on the sidelines as a “statistician in training.” OKAY…let me tell you a little secret….it took me until the final championship game at Reser Stadium to figure out what/understand what a first down was! Again…I am in training not solely responsible and will have a mentor with many years experience!

Well…I could write for hours about all that has been going on but I guess I should save some for the next blog entry!

4th of July/Annika and Mommy at the Ocean--A little windy and foggy...but still beautiful!

4th of July/Hangin with Aunt Kelly and Aunt Pam

4th of July/Camping with Aunt Betsy & Uncle Steve. Annika won't take her eyes off the campfire. Hmmm Summer Vacation--It's hard work to lounge around the house.

(Last Night) This is what happens when you eat carrots and SNEEZE. She got dad sitting on the living room floor. What a mess--I was still finding carrots this morning.